Hair Transplant Growth Chart

The Stages of Healing Hair Growth

Many of those who have gotten themselves a new look via the practice of a hair transplant, have revered the results and enjoyed the full benefits of not only building personal confidence but also enhancing their appearance tenfold.

There is no doubt that this type of non-invasive procedure has many benefits, and is not only cost-effective depending on where you get it done, but is also a quick and easy treatment for those who are fed up with hair loss or balding.

Both men and women can get it done, and although it is an expensive option, there are some countries, such as Turkey, for instance, that are the cheapest and most efficient in the industry.

There is one thing that most individuals are curious about, and that is the hair transplant timeline. Everyone wants to see results immediately, however only a few know the science behind it. This article will give you a brief idea of how long it will take for hair to grow back after a hair loss treatment such as a transplant and what to expect during each stage.

It is however a good idea to keep in mind, that this will depend from one individual to the next. Because of this, there is no strict growth timeline, but the below information is there as a guideline.

Hair Transplant Timeline – How Long Does It Take for Hair to Start Growing?

On average those who have had a hair transplant, typically start to see new hair growth from about 6 months and full growth can be noticeable from 10 months onwards. There are however a few environmental factors that can affect it, as well as your hair structure.

When you visit the clinics, the doctors undergo a full physical analysis and evaluation and create a personalized plan for you to stick to. The healing of the scabs created by the new hair follicle implants, usually fall off or subside within the first two weeks, this is when the new hair attaches itself to its new follicles.

Thereafter the normal growth phase of hair starts and can grow up to any given length each month. According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, the rate at which hair grows usually, depends on certain factors such as your overall health condition, your age, the type of hair you have, and any underlying health conditions present at the time.

As per the science on the topic, the growth of hair is controlled on a cellular level, and as such, it can be difficult to tell how fast or slow it will grow, but accordingly the average growth can be anywhere between 1 centimeter and half an inch. There is no factual evidence yet, to control or speed up the growth of hair.

In many patients suffering from pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), the hair follicles in certain parts of the scalp are no longer entering anagen, preventing new growth. During a DHI or FUE hair transplant, healthy hair follicles are removed from an area unaffected by this balding (commonly at the back of the head), before being implanted one at a time into the recipient site.

The normal human scalp has up to 95% of hair follicles during the first stage – the anagen stage. The remaining 5 to 10% of them are present in the last resting stage, the telogen. On a typical cycle about 100 to 150 hairs will fall out, and this is normal.

Hair Growth Stages After a Hair Transplant Procedure

Patients who have suffered from hair loss or pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia which happens in both men and women, affect certain parts of the scalp, and under a microscope, this is indicated by hair follicles no longer entering the anagen or first stage. Thus, preventing new hair from growing.

During the procedures of hair transplant, either adopting the FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) or the DHI (Direct Hair Implant) methods, healthy hair follicles that are not affected by the baldness, are stripped off from a patch or patches on your scalp and implanted individually into affected sites.

Once the treatment of hair transplant is completed, the timeline of healing back to normal hair growth may be slightly different. We take a look at this below.

Hair Transplant Procedure Timeline

Below we split the timeline into individual months to give you a brief idea of how the majority of the process of healing till hair growth is considered.

During the First Week

Right after the surgery is completed, there may be a normal swelling, burning or itching sensation felt on either the donor site or the recipient site. It is normal for the area to be red and will recover inside of 2 weeks.

After Two Weeks

Anywhere after and between the 6^th and 10^th day after the procedure, the red swelling mentioned above will have subsided and a scab would most likely form. This is the body’s defense and protection mechanism, which is also a normal phase in the process.

Doctors always advise not to touch, scratch, or pick this area while it is still in its healing stages. The necessary medications, and creams (is necessary) will be provided to you post-surgery, and it is imperative for you to follow the instructions through to completion.

One Month Later

The 3^rd and 4^th weeks after the surgery are when you should start seeing new hairs falling out. This is expected, as these are dead hairs and are making way for new ones. this is also known as the ‘shock loss’ phase. Because the practice causes some trauma to the scalp, the hair ‘dies’ and triggers the catagen phase. After this, the next phase telogen, steps in, and the last stage of exogen starts to show its head too.

After Two Months

By now the new hair that was transplanted into your scalp has been fully embedded and is safe and healthy to begin its full journey of the 4 stages. However, at this point, it starts not with the anagen, but with the telogen instead. The resting phase. This will last for 2 months and you will start to see a full head of hair but not as full as when it hits the 6-month mark.

After 6 Months

Once the initial 6 months are completed, then you will see the hair growth and well as thickness of it as if you never had the procedure done in the first place.

Complete healing is usually seen after about 9 months and the new hairs should be at least about 3 inches long, which is enough for you to start grooming yourself.

For anyone keen on getting a permanent and life-changing solution for hair loss or baldness, this is one of the best and most effective methods to think about. It is advised not to go for the first clinic you see however, do your research and find a clinic that has qualified and experienced practitioners working in a well-established and reputable medical facility.